Sounds like Microsoft won't be evoking any fond memory of blue screens of death

News continues to trickle out about the upcoming version of Microsoft Corp.'s (MSFT) Windows operating system. Set to land later this year, builds of the new OS, code-named "Blue" have trickled out to select partners -- which in turn has led to leaks.

The latest news to emerge comes courtesy of Roman L. (handle:AngleWZR), a developer who has been analyzing the leaked builds. He notes on his Twitter that the latest leaked build -- build 9375 -- has a text string in the lower right-hand corner labeling it "Windows 8.1".

One other minor piece of Windows 8.1/Blue related news courtesy of Mr. Thurrott's WinSuperSite : apparently Microsoft has tweaked the Search Charm in its latest builds. Where Windows 8 made you pick between "Apps, Settings, or Files" , the new search does away with that, allowing you to start typing immediately. Instead of pre-selecting the category, it simply clumps the results by category.

[Image Source: WinSuperSite]

ZDNet Windows blogger Mary Jo Foley says that Windows 8.1 should hit RTM in August. A beta is rumored to be slotted for Microsoft's June BUILD conference.

You should love Windows 8 then, considering your arguments make you sound like a toddler.

So in Windows 7, how can I pause a long file copy to give preference to one I started after the first one? In Windows 7, where are my ribbon controls in explorer? Where is my advanced task manager in Windows 7? I could talk about smaller memory footprints or advanced hybrid sleep/boot, but that is pretty advanced talk for a toddler to understand, so I won't bore you with it.

quote: , how can I pause a long file copy to give preference to one I started after the first one?

Nice, but not worth putting up with the Metro UI for.

quote: In Windows 7, where are my ribbon controls in explorer?

Exactly where they should be: nowhere. Another perfect example of a backwards step in functionality and usability.

quote: Where is my advanced task manager in Windows 7

Again, nice, but not worth putting up with the Metro UI for.

The task manager is about the only thing I've seen in Win8 that I care about as an "enhancement." And in any case, there is *nothing* that Windows 8 could do that would justify tolerating the Metrosexual UI. The computer is essentially unusable with that UI on it, which for all the world looks like it was designed for a toy "laptop" that you buy for a 6-year old to play with.

The fact of the matter is that there is *nothing* that is easier in Win8 to do...and the more programs you have and/or the more advanced of a user you are, the worse it gets. If all you do is troll Facebook and play Farmville, I'm sure Win8 is great for you. Then again, if you tried hard enough you could probably get a toaster oven to do that these days.

For everyone over the age of 6, Win8 is just simply a trainwreck - and fanboys like you who protest that fact aren't changing anything. You're just outing yourselves as children.

You have some good arguments, but childish statements like that really don't do you any credit.

I'm working for small IT company, 20 people total. We have made Win 8 available for our staff back in September on voluntary basis, and pretty much everyone moved to it. In fact we had to pull the plug and keep two helpdesk support computers on Windows 7, just in case for whatever reason we might no be able to remote to customer's machine.

I am personally 45 years of age, moved my work PC back in September, my laptop in November, my home PC in January. I liked W7, but I would not go back to it. I really like W8. To extend my next phone will be WP8 and my next tablet Windows tablet.

Let me reassure you, we don't do child labour, no one below 6 here. In fact everyone in company is over 20.

We still don't have much W8 among customers, but those few among small businesses we have are fine. Took them a few days to get used to it, everyone at least content now.

Windows 8 has many improvements. Maybe none of them is defining quality on it's own, but put all together, they will offer more than decent reason to upgrade for people that don't have problem with Modern GUI; all the mentioned ones, and many unmentioned - like taskbar on both screens, for example.

I can accept that you personally don't like Modern GUI - and many others - but I'm finding it rather amusing that you seem incapable to accept some people do like it.

I would suggest that you talk to the people who are using it. I think you'd find that many "want to" like it but are also considering a switch back.

This is the best statement I've seen on windows 8 so far..

"the more advanced of a user you are, the worse it gets"

I am a early adopter of all Microsoft operating systems and to be honest I've never had a problem with any (including Windows ME) Until now. I wish I could like win8.. but at the end of the day it simply frustrates the hell out of me. Microsoft wants to integrate it's OS experience across all lines (I get it..) but giving their users a " 3 steps back" experience is not the way to go.